Watch a Nail-Biting Rescue of a Skier Trapped in a "Tree Well"

Tree wells, areas of deep, soft snow around trees, are caused by the branches of trees filtering snow like a sifter does flour. The end result is like a patch of quicksand, but with snow. These patches of softer snow can easily trap skiers or hikers who stumble upon them unexpectedly. This danger becomes dramatically apparent in a video of a group of friends skiing on a backcountry slope.

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The crew was practicing its avalanche rescue techniques when they were confronted with a real rescue scenario—a friend had fallen face-first into a deep tree well. Only his skis and feet were visible above the snow. The terrifying and thrilling rescue will make you think twice about exploring wild snowy terrains without professional training.

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